I was thinking I should get an impact vest for safety reasons.
Looking for a one that will be compatible with a waist harness and also rather light in feeling so that I can have a much free moving as possible.
Do you guys wearany or have experience with these portective gear ?
I was told there is one from Dakine but not realy sure.
What are your experiences / thoughts ?
I was told about the dakine matrix vest or a kitesurf vest usualy compatible with a waist harnest... but can't be realy sure.
I am looking more for an impact vest rather than a bounce one or life jacket...
I have a NP impact vest harness. It's a waist harness combined with vest, works well, but I'm not sure that they still sell them.
check out the o'neil website they have one that would suit a waist harness no problems. it doesnt ristrict movement in the slightest. Ion also make one which is just as good and basically a copy of each other.
shopau.oneill.com
not sure who stocks them in aus though as i got mine when over in europe
this is the one i have you can see the differnce where the padding goes to the kite one would be more suited as this one affects how the harness sits a little bit and also doesnt stay in place as well.
www.oneill.com/#/men/asiapacific/collection/men/wetsuits/wake_ski/comp_vests/gooru_padded_vest_1/slime/
Had a DaKine impact vest / waist harness combo about 8 years ago. Comfortable, good flotation and great for learning fowards / crashing a lot. I liked it. Only reason I stopped using it was I left it somewhere I thought I would return to... and never went back. Strange how life works that way. Anyway, highly recommended.
I would consider using one not for safety but for flotation, as in a fresh water lake in a summer suit, you dont have much extra flotation.
Also when the wind is very marginal and there are only occasional gusts to get you going and you have to try to keep the sail flying when there is almost no wind while waiting for the one gust that might save you a swim in.
Whats the difference between an impact vest & buoyancy vest? I have a Neil Pryde vest that is great..
Like most of this type gear it's now sadly marketed as a kitesurfing vest.
You really have to try on as many vests as you can, they should fit very tight to avoid them sliding up.
Some of them are too bulky in certain areas to allow free windsurfing movement.
One I tried on and may buy is made by NPX, it has a side zipper and was very uncumbersome.
